Animal welfare campaigners have launched an e-petition calling on the Government to ban puppy and kitten farming in the UK.

Pup Aid, founded by television vet Marc Abraham, said that hundreds of thousands of puppies are bred in horrific conditions and are riddled with disease, often dying within days of being bought by new owners.

Kittens and puppies are often separated from their mothers too early, and are transported long distances around the country, the charity said.

And according to a recent Dogs Trust study, 900,000 people have bought dogs from a puppy farm even though 95% of those asked said they would not do so.

Marc Abraham called on the Government to "end this needless and preventable suffering for good".
He said: "Most dog owners say they'd never buy a dog from a puppy farm, yet a large number will due to common scams especially by private dealers.

"This is exactly why Pup Aid have launched this e-petition. We need 100,000 signatures from the nation's animal lovers to make the Government listen and hopefully end this needless and preventable suffering for good.

"The Government must ban the sale of young puppies and kittens unless their mothers are present; as an absent mother is a clear compromise of both health and welfare for these animals and often a big clue indicating puppy farming."

The petition, "ban the sale of young puppies and kittens without their mothers being present", has more than 6,000 signatures so far. It needs 100,000 to be considered for a debate in the House of Commons.

Pup Aid has won the backing of Ricky Gervais, Liam Gallagher, Brian May and Joanna Page among others.